Dandruff

Dandruff particles are visible flakes of skin that have been continuously shed from the scalp. It is normal to shed some dead skin flakes as the skin is constantly renewing itself. The new cells form in the lower layers. They are gradually pushed to the surface as more new cells form beneath them. By the time they reach the surface, the cells have become flat and overlap each other like roof tiles. By then, these cells are dead and are shed from the surface all the time. They are so small that we do not notice this is happening.

With dandruff, this whole process of skin renewal (or skin turnover) speeds up, so a greater number of dead cells are being shed. Also, the cells are shed in clumps, which are big enough to be seen with the naked eye as embarrassing flakes, especially when they land on dark clothing. The scalp may also feel slightly itchy.

Dandruff is very common. According to Proctor and Gamble, it affects more than 50% of the population of the USA – so it is more common to have dandruff than not! It can occur at any age, but is most likely in the early 20s.

Causes of dandruff

Surprisingly, dandruff is a bit of an enigma. About 25 years ago, dermatologists started to blame a tiny fungus, the Malassezia yeast, on the scalp. Everyone has some Malassezia yeast on their skin, particularly in the greasy areas such as the scalp and upper back. It feeds on the natural grease of the skin, from which it produces oleic acid. The oleic acid triggers increased turnover of skin cells, resulting in dandruff. So, getting rid of the yeast should improve the dandruff.

Hormones may also be involved, because dandruff usually starts after puberty and is more common in men than women. For unknown reasons, people with some illnesses, such as Parkinson’s disease, are more likely to have dandruff.

Common beliefs about dandruff – true or false?

Dandruff is due to dryness of the skinFalse. Dandruff is caused by a rapid turnover of cells, so more dead cells are shed from the surface. In fact, dandruff occurs in areas where the grease glands of the skin are most active, and the skin is not usually dry.

Dandruff is more common in males than in femalesTrue. Probably because the grease glands are affected by hormones.

Dandruff is affected by the weatherProbably true. Sunlight inhibits the growth of the Malassezia yeast.

Dandruff results from poor hygieneFalse. Dandruff is caused by rapid turnover of skin cells, probably as a reaction to the Malassezia yeast. However, dandruff sufferers do not have more of the yeast than other people – they are just more sensitive to it.

Dandruff is contagiousFalse. You can not ‘catch’ dandruff from someone else, such as by using his/her brush or comb.

Wearing a hat worsens dandruffPossibly true. Pityrosporum ovale yeasts thrive best when protected from sunlight. Also, wearing a hat prevents sweat from evaporating, and this may encourage the yeast.

Getting rid of dandruff

Hair gels and other hair products can irritate the scalp in some people. For a while, try doing without whatever you have been using, or change to a different product.

Do not scratch your scalp. When you shampoo, massage your scalp without scratching. Scientists have looked at hair from dandruff sufferers who scratch, using an electron microscope that magnifies 400 times. They could see fingernail marks, damaging the hair at its root.

If your dandruff is mild, try shampooing your hair twice a week using any shampoo labelled ‘frequent use, for dry hair’ (not an ordinary ‘antidandruff’ shampoo). This will remove the flakes that are being shed, and the moisturizer in the shampoo will protect the scalp.

Avoid dyeing your hair (unless you absolutely must). We all have bacteria on our scalp, some of which are beneficial. These ‘good’ bacteria prevent dandruff yeast, and hair dyes reduce their numbers.

If you want to try a natural remedy, boil four heaped tablespoons of dried thyme in half a litre of water (just under a pint) for 10 minutes. Let it cool and strain it through a sieve into a jar. Massage some of the liquid onto your scalp three times a week. Do not rinse it out.

Look for a shampoo containing tea tree oil. Research from Australia (published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2002) showed that a 5% tea tree oil shampoo improved dandruff by 41%, which means that, although it did not get rid of the dandruff completely, there was a noticeable improvement.

For more severe dandruff, you need to deal with the yeast. This means looking carefully at the small print on the antidandruff shampoo in your local pharmacy. You could start by trying a shampoo containing selenium sulfide, which has an anti-yeast effect. Wet your hair, rub the shampoo onto your scalp and rinse off. Repeat, leaving the shampoo for 3–5 minutes before rinsing off. Do not use selenium sulfide within 48 hours of applying a hair colorant or a perm lotion. Some shampoos contain zinc pyrithione, another anti-yeast chemical.

The most effective treatment is an anti-yeast shampoo containing ketoconazole which, in some countries, you can buy from a chemist without a doctor’s prescription. Wet your hair, rub the shampoo onto your scalp and rinse off. Repeat, leaving the shampoo for 3–5 minutes before rinsing off. Use it twice a week for 2–4 weeks to clear the dandruff, and then once every 2 weeks, using a normal shampoo in between times.

Antidandruff conditioners are also available.

When to see your doctor about dandruff

You should certainly see your family doctor if your scalp is red and itchy – or if the skin is flaky around the eyebrows, round the nose or behind the ears – because this suggests you have the more severe form called seborrhoeic dermatitis (seborrhoeic eczema). You should also see your doctor if the dandruff is very lumpy or patchy, or if you have scaly skin elsewhere, because it could be a skin disorder, such as psoriasis.

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Comments on this article

Posted by Optional on 26/10/2014 at 05:44

Hi. I really have bad dandruff. It really annoys me and I always scratch at my scalp. I also have really thick hair which makes it hard to reach my hair. I want to try the shampooing with the medicines in it, and maybe try to thin my hair a bit, because I wear a hijab, and maybe because of having a lot of hair and stuff makes me have a lot of flakes and little patches on my hair. Thank you xox

Posted by Private on 22/10/2014 at 05:15

My dandruff improved majorly since I took steps to improve my nutrition and fix some deficiencies. Some nutritional deficiencies can cause flaking on the scalp, such as vitamin b7 (biotin), b6, vitamin A and zinc. It's good to fix one's nutrition and rule out deficiencies. If flaky scalp is due to a deficiency, it may be a subtle sign of other types of damage happening to your body.

Posted by Apprentice Angel on 29/08/2014 at 08:46

First-READ THE ARTICLE, all of it. Next, make sure you know what kind of dandruff you are dealing with. If you have red blotches around your ears, nose, eyebrows it's probably seborrhea, eczema, or psoriasis. Go see your doc.
Be sure to shampoo every day with a good anti-yeast or anti-fungal shampoo- or both for awhile to get it under control.
Other good home remedies are 2 Tbsps. of baking soda + 2 crushed aspirin (salicylic acid) dissolved in a pint of clean water- shampoo, pour some of the liquid on your head, & scalp, and leave it there for 10 minutes or so, then rinse. Another good rinse is half & half apple cider vinegar and water-drench your scalp with it and let it dry in the sunshine (a natural disinfectant)- then rinse. Tea tree oil, lavender oil, oregano and rosemary tinctures (at any health food store) are also good disinfectants- apply to scalp for a few hours then wash it out.
For a dry, stressed scalp try a mix of any of these oils: coconut, Shea, Jojoba, olive, macadamia nut,or chia with a little vitamin E oil- apply and leave it overnight or a few hours then wash it out with shampoo and rinse with one of the above rinses. Baking soda and vinegar are amazing remedies for many problems! Experiment until you find the right combo of shampoo, rinse and hot oil treatments that will keep your flakes under control.

Posted by Optional on 11/07/2014 at 11:34

Very useful. I was able to get some good ideas yup try.

Posted by juan pablo on 04/07/2014 at 06:19

I dont know why these people say jead and shoulders work it doesnt amd either doe selsun blue or t-gel i dont know what to use but my barbers is helping me through it he never complaons he says it happens to many people

Posted by Optional on 15/06/2014 at 12:12

My hair is flaking and I don't know what to do it's been hapaning for awhile now

Posted by Optionalsudeer on 19/02/2014 at 09:05

am from india .i have dandruff promblem wen i was 16 now am 21 .i ve used many products but no use.i ve used herbal products too but no use.am realy frustrated wid this promblem..............now am thinking to use head n shoulder shampoo to rid my dandruff..........................can u just help me out wid this promblem

Posted by Cameron on 16/02/2014 at 08:44

Hi guys please help im 15 Male and i have dandruff even still after i use hesd and shoulders do i need to change my pillowcase? i want it completely gone forever! i hate it please help

Posted by Optional on 24/01/2014 at 09:23

I had dandruff for 8 years untill very recently.
It took me all these years to finally go to my GP and ask for help and within days of doing so I am finally free from dandruff.
He explained to me that dandruff is not only caused by rapid production of skin cells but it can made much worse by a fungal infection.
I would never have thought I could have carried a fungal infection for 8 years without severe symptoms but I had!
He prescribed me a anti fungal shampoo with 2% Ketonazole and after 2 or 3 days I was so happy with the results!
I hope my post directs people to this remedy and helps them too. Here is a NHS link to the shampoo I used. I still use it 2 - 3 times a week by the way.
http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Infections%20(fungal)&medicine=Ketoconazole&preparation=Ketoconazole%202%25%20shampoo

Posted by Optional on 14/12/2013 at 04:41

i have tried to get rid of it for about 10 years and i am startting to get more and more frustrating

Posted by D on 12/12/2013 at 05:53

I seem to have dandruff, I don't know when it started but i think it's been a couple of years.
Its so hard not to scratch, even though the article says that's bad! i scratch a few times a day. The itching is just too much. Whenever I do scratch, i get the tiny white flakes under my fingernails.
I use Nizoral 2%, an anti-dandruff shampoo, about 4 times a week. It hasn't seemed to have an effect, but i keep using it. I have had people tell me it can supposedly reduce the possibility of baldness later on, but i do not know if this is true.
I don't know what else to do. I would have thought anti-dandruff shampoo was the best approach. Am I stuck with this? How am I supposed to avoid scratching?

Posted by Optional on 05/12/2013 at 07:00

My head id itching alok n it starts to itch on other areas nw n its gettin on my nerves

Posted by Optional on 02/12/2013 at 10:12

my scalp is always greased and never dry but i been noticing that my scalp gets dry every single day no matter how much grease i put in my hair then i always get dandruff and it itch alot and my hair starts to shed

Posted by Optional on 02/10/2013 at 09:58

i am 21 years of age and i see a drandruff like on my breast nipples ? what is this and what should i do ?

Posted by Aint nobody got time fo' that. on 25/07/2013 at 05:25

head and shoulders works :|.

Posted by Optional on 05/07/2013 at 03:57

I strongly recommend olive oil once a fortnight on the scalp. Rub into the scalp and leave on for a while. shampoo directly onto the hair before wetting to remove oil. Doesn't cure but dissolves flakes for at least a fortnight. Don't know if this would be a suitable treatment for seb dandruff though.

Posted by Optional on 20/05/2013 at 03:53

Basically, what i do, and this may sound time consumig and silly but it works. I take my fingers and use them as a comb, put them in my hair, like a half an inch from my scalp, and shake with my head upside down. Do your hair in small sections. Shake your hair and watch the dandruff fall out! It gets a lot of the visible pieces out!

Posted by Optional on 11/05/2013 at 06:37

Ok. So when I turned 11 I started having dandruff. I tried massaging my scalp then scratching it but it doesn't work. Its not a serious condition though. It doesn't fall in my face or anything. But plz help me! Any shampoo or anything!

Posted by tj on 01/05/2013 at 02:01

got it so bad afraid to get a haircut

Posted by Optional on 29/04/2013 at 10:20

Im 13 I Hate Dandruff Like Its Annoying like Everytime I rub OR Do Anything With My Hair I See Like White Big Pieces Of Dandruff !! Like Its So Bad I dont even Like Looking at My Hair Anymore :( Someone Help

Posted by My Name Is Private on 20/04/2013 at 08:15

Well i'm 13 and i ave had dandruff for 2 years and now i'm getting seriously pissed off. My head doesn't itch but people can see it. And now people in my year keep saying oh you have nits. I'm using T Gel atm. Is there anything i can do to stop dandruff or just prevent it, in some way

Posted by Yeah, Im not telling my name on 18/04/2013 at 11:40

I am 13 and I have not severe dandruff but, when I comb by long, wavy hair I will see a ton of white flakes. I use a dandruff shampoo called "Everyday Clean" by Western Family and I tell you it does not work. I shampoo everyday but still flakes. If you are at this webpage read the article because it helped me.

Posted by Anonymous on 10/03/2013 at 01:18

I have severely bad dandruff, to the point where it is falling into my face etc, how can I get rid of this?

Posted by PITER (J) on 04/03/2013 at 03:34

MY SELF PITER(J),AGE 24,MALE... I have a dandruff around 4 years, i have used variety shampoo but no improvement, and also hair falling. when i wash my hair it will clean, after one day it again grows. please suggest me how to cure dandruff problem and hair falling permanently. (tell me natural treatment & medicine)
if it continues i think i will bald in future so it was a great problem. plz help me..

Please help me my names makayla I'm 11 yrs old and have dandruff I just found out this morning I had it I use morracon oil sorry if I can't spell but my mum said I might have gone to far and went on my scalp so therefore I have little dandruff but I'm embarrassed about it please help me

Posted by Optional on 04/02/2013 at 01:10

m 19 yrs old...i am having so much of dandruff for many years , its too itchy n sometimes when i itch it some lumps develop at the bottom of my head ,neck and at the back of my ears. I m usi clear shampoo since 4 times but no effect till now. Using coconut oil nd i have lost alot of my hair since 4 or 5 months....plz sugest sumthng wht to do nd wht not to!

Posted by Jay-Jay on 06/10/2012 at 01:25

I had dandruff for a while. And i usually do wear a hat. My parents say it might form because I might use to much shampoo. And I shave my head and constantly rub my head to get most of this dandruff out of my hair.

Posted by Dandruff Girl 22 on 13/07/2012 at 08:38

this really helped me because i never knew any of this, so thank you and i'll be seeing a doctor about it because its annoying and i always scratch it till i rip it of my scalp and theres liquid again thanks

Posted by Optional on 10/04/2012 at 04:08

I have had dandruff for 20 years, i have used different products but no improvement. The itiching drives me crazy, what do l do? I need urgent help.

Posted by Kat on 31/03/2012 at 08:52

I woke this morning with large flakes in my hair and a slightly itchy scalp. I have never had dandruff before. Could u advise on some medication for this problem an possible cause thankyou.

Posted by Masio Kyuli on 27/03/2012 at 11:43

Tried ketoconazole with pyr------shampoo: then cream with salicylic acid but it keeps recurring. Not seen a damertologist yet or should i?

Posted by Optional on 22/02/2012 at 06:00

I have dandruff from few years and i m trying head & shoulder but no effect, have lost my hair slowly, i request you to kindly give the instruction about the dandruff shampoo.

Posted by maryanne on 10/02/2012 at 07:11

wow some very good tips there!

Posted by Optional on 10/01/2012 at 09:41

Iam 19yrs old and iam continously lossing hair just inthe front part ofthe scalp .i continuely use anti dandruf shampoo and olive oil but it doesnt work what shall i do please help

Posted by Optional on 30/12/2011 at 11:23

hey site is amazing..thanks for solving my problem

Posted by Optional on 29/12/2011 at 01:33

Go to boots chemist & buy thier own brand anti dandruff shampoo I promise you it is the best and it isn't expensive.

Posted by Optional on 26/12/2011 at 11:15

im suffering from this itchy scalf and my hair is falling...do you have any medicine to stop this?

Posted by sales rep on 12/12/2011 at 07:23

my hair is always iching all the time and now my hair is starting to fall out? i have been to the doctor and got shampoo but stilll did not work! whats the best shampoo to buy

Posted by Optional on 01/12/2011 at 11:21

Does not having good hygiene make dandruff ?

Posted by Lauren on 11/11/2011 at 09:45

I have dandruff and I haven't left the house in weeks. I'm so embarrassed. I pray to God every day it goes away, but it doesnt work

Posted by Optional on 09/11/2011 at 01:26

really helpful website thank you!

Posted by Optional on 04/11/2011 at 04:28

I have discovered that my dandruff is directly related to drinking tea (black red breakfast tea with milk). As soon as i stop tea the ichiness and red blotches and dandruff magically dissapeared within 2 days. If you are a tea drinker try it.

Posted by Triana on 31/10/2011 at 04:06

I realy nid hlp cos my scalp is very itchy...

Posted by Maan on 20/10/2011 at 06:39

1)howe many time i should was my hair a week 2)i also have hairfal promblem due to dandruf sugest remedy for it3)i use almond oil but i dont find it beneficial for my hair shoul i continue4)which is the beter moisturiser pleas sugges5)please sugest best five food for beter hair which is easily available in market specialy in india (please reply i am realy need your suggestion)please help

Posted by Optional on 20/10/2011 at 03:42

Very useful website, thanks

Posted by Optional on 15/10/2011 at 03:26

head and shoulders helps.

Posted by Optional on 19/09/2011 at 08:52

I have a itch all over my head is there anything that can stop it ?

Posted by shariff on 15/09/2011 at 04:30

i got some of dat dandruff on my head and it bugs me and my friends be makin fun of me all day. then i got that head and shoulders and it gone

Posted by ronak on 08/09/2011 at 07:11

my hair was day by day anti dandruff, i m useing garnier smpoo, can u suggest me witch sampoo i will use it. so, after some time my hair will be good

Posted by beki on 04/09/2011 at 06:12

my hair is rotten filt with dandruff but this website gave me the good tip of getting rid of dandruff :)

Posted by optional on 22/08/2011 at 10:59

Hello,
I have ha dandruff since I was about 9? and I used head and shoulders anti dandruff shampoo it really help'd me I can now bend over without worrying any one can see my scalp and I ave stopped itching so people don't now think I have nits! (hope I'm helpful!)

Posted by Optional on 22/08/2011 at 08:57

I have what I thought was heat rash, it is around my ears and hairline as well. Now I'm suspecting eczema or yeast infection. I've been reading everything I can find and there are people RAVING about coconut oil, testimonials that it has gotten rid of cradle cap within days! Going to order some off Amazon and give it a try.

Im 19year old im have so much dandruff since from 13year i like staying shaved i use blade,though i dont know what cause it sometimes i find my head dry.i have been using vaseline to avoid.any results i can get?

Posted by Optional on 17/06/2011 at 08:13

I've had dandruff for quite a while now, at some point it did go away but I keeps coming back. I found that it's about finding the shampoo that works for you. I've tried tar based shampoos to shampoos with ketoconazole, but the one that worked well and is keeping them pesky flakes at bay is an over the counter zinc based shampoo. I highly suggest that you try and try until you find the one!

Posted by Emily on 07/06/2011 at 11:37

I'm only 11 years old and i've had dandruff for a few months now but it feel like a year. I've been using head and shoulders shampoo but since ive only used it a few times i havn't been seeing results PLEASE HELP!

Posted by Anonymous on 07/06/2011 at 11:29

i'm only 11 years old and i've had dandruff for a few months, but it feels like a year. my mom says it's because i havn't washed my bed spreads is it true?

Posted by hairdresser on 10/04/2011 at 02:37

I am a hairdresser. Roughly 90% of my clients have dandruff to some degree, so you are not alone with this problem. For light cases, wash hair regularly (every day, or every 2nd day), when you brush you hair brush your scalp aswell to help lift the dead skin cells (be careful not to do this too vigorously- you don't want to agrivate the scalp more), most salons will have dandruff treatments so speak to your stylist about these options. Some anti dandruff shampoos react with some hair dyes- in particular hair bleaches, so let your stylist know if your are treating your scalp with anti-dandruff shampoo (head and shoulders is among these). If your dandruff is severe consult your doctor or trichologist (scalp doctor). Good luck.

Posted by ddd on 09/04/2011 at 04:54

im ten and i have dandruff....... i cant tell if its serious or not but when i pat or brush my hand through my hair, the result is that a massive downpour of white flakes comes down..... and some seem to have dry blood in the middle or in some areas of it.... please help .....

Posted by Sam on 07/04/2011 at 01:09

I have slight annoying dandruff. I dyed my hair and I had no dandruff. Years ago I dyed my hair dark brown/red and I had an allergic reaction...stupidly I decided to continue dyeing my hair. I was platinum blonde for years (dandruff free). I then tried going back to my natural hair color. I broke out in hives and swelled majorly. I still have slight annoying flakes. I tried T-gel and Tea Tree Oil. Nothings works. I haven't worn black in months which is saddening. I've mostly given up on trying. Nothing works. Any suggestions?

Posted by Phil on 01/04/2011 at 06:26

I am 13, i have had bad dandruff for almost a year now, and it is very noticeable on my school blazer as it is black. I have started to use head and shoulders regulary, it has become less noticeable. Are there any quick easy ways to get rid of it because it is really bothering me.

Posted by Jenny N. on 01/04/2011 at 04:06

I first noticed I had dandruff was when I turned 17. At first I thought I would go away in a week or two, but as the weeks past I see no change. I started to get worried and switched my shampoo to head and shoulders. I see no change so I went back to what I had. It went away for a little while until I dyed my hair. After the fact I noticed the dandruff again. I've dyed my hair multiple times before. Now I'm 18 and I still have dandruff. It's not severe but it makes me feel uncomfortable with myself. Shameless to say sometimes in public I itch. :( Oh and I naturally have oily hair, I have to shower twice a day to maintain clean hair. I don't know what to do. I haven't tried Apple cyder vinegar,it sounds too stinky to try it. I need help with my dandruff. :/

Posted by keshia on 29/03/2011 at 02:31

Like how would u get the dandruff away really fast and what type of doctor should I go to

Posted by Justin on 20/03/2011 at 05:28

I use to have bad danruffs problems but I use head and shoulders danruff shampoo the blue bottle one it really work

Posted by Dandruffbugsme on 04/03/2011 at 11:03

I have small dandruff, its itchy, and people notice it! I am going to try some dandruff shampoos then turn back here if it fails

Posted by Manton on 28/02/2011 at 04:48

I have a really bad dandruff problem and it's hard going through school it is especially bad in winter because when I take my shirt hat or sweater off after I come in all the dandruff goes to the top of my hair and it is static and it sticks il bugs me so much.

Posted by Optional on 23/02/2011 at 08:24

when i touch my hair its like its snowing and everyone can se it on my school blazer its so embarrasing how do i get rid of it

Posted by Optional on 20/02/2011 at 03:37

Does dandruff(malassezia yeast) spread or thrive best if we wet our scalp or head for longer time at least half an hour?
Please reply quick.

Posted by Mugatea on 17/02/2011 at 09:53

I have a bit of dandruff-my scalp itches and when I rub my head I can see it coming out. When on holiday a while ago I got my hair braided and when I got homei found that between the braids in the gaps there where largish to smallish flakes of skin which I figured were sunburn, but I'm not sure. I'm too embarassed to tell my mum cos I'm real shy , but does anyone have any uncomplicated inexpensive ideas for a 13 year old??? Thanks!

Posted by kevin on 15/02/2011 at 03:53

i found your information interesting but dandruff is seriously startin to piss me off considering i wear black alot asell

Posted by AFR on 01/02/2011 at 02:51

after many years was referred by GP to specialist who diagnosed "seborrhoeic dermatitis" and advised using a moisutising cream and dandruff shampoo. No change! 3 years later still much the same and various GPs not interested. The condition cleared itself for about 6 months after not using anything then had to take antibiotic for tooth abscess and its returned worst than ever.
Help please.

Posted by Heather on 29/01/2011 at 07:36

mix 2 cups warm water and 1 cup vinegar (any kind) togather and pour over newly shampooed hair once or twice a week. Leave on hair for 5 minutes and rince well. (I do this while in the shower) It will get ride of your dandruff. Vinegar kills yeast!

Posted by Bindi on 26/01/2011 at 08:44

i have danduff and its mild. i've had it for a month and i dont know how to get rid of it!!!Help!!! and the worst part is that im only 11, im going to be 12 in may

Posted by Optional on 16/01/2011 at 11:38

by using dandruff shampoo im loosing hair any home made to reduce dandruff

Posted by Optional on 09/01/2011 at 09:34

I have dandruff, but like it says above look for dry skin.. i have exima.. which concludes to my skin being very dry at some points.. so how do i know if its serious?

Posted by Optional on 05/01/2011 at 09:59

my dandruff is in one position and i have had it for ages and i can'tget rid of it. It is lumpy and with my finger nail i can pull it off but then my head bleads. It then grows back into a lump and the cycle continues. I don't know what to do.

Posted by Optional on 04/01/2011 at 11:18

Well I have pretty bad dandruff and I guess it does show and it really itches. It's really flaky and considering I have black hair, it makes it all the worse. I change my shampoos moderatly so my hair doesn't get used to it. I don't really know what to do anymore. I tried Head and Shoulders, Dove, and just shampoo for dandruff. I think the worst part is that it really itches.

Posted by Optional on 24/12/2010 at 04:20

I eat healthy drink a bottle of water a day use baby shampoo, shoots shampoo and put oil in once a month yet I suffer from dandruff that doesn't go away sometimes I use head and shoulders

Posted by kian on 20/12/2010 at 10:31

i have really bad dandruff my hair and skool uniform is black :( and evry1 can see it. i used to use head and shoulders and it went but stopped for a week and gt loads pls help head and shouders take to long

Posted by Amina on 06/12/2010 at 08:42

Hi... plz let me know the difference between the dry scalp and dandruff... What are the symptoms to find whether one is having a dandruff or dry scalp.

Posted by Optional on 24/10/2010 at 06:58

Is it normal for a 13 year-old to have dandruff? and if I scratch it all out will it go away??

Posted by Optional on 21/10/2010 at 02:05

I had dandruff and itchy scalp for years. Head and Shoulders and other dandruff shampoos helped a bit, but not much. I used a cheap and nasty shampoo once and my dandruff was terrible that week, so I figured maybe the shampoos themselves were causing the dandruff. So then I chose really mild shampoos, starting with Johnsons baby shampoo. The dandruff and itching have stopped, but after a few weeks i did get 'cradle-cap' (like babies get) from Johnsons, so now I use any mild shampoo alternated with Johnsons baby shampoo. I haven't had dandruff or itching for over two years now (no more cradle cap either!). If you have sensitive skin, it might be the shampoo chemicals that are causing your dandruff/itching too. Look for some mild ones, or give Johnson's baby Shampoo a try for a bit- good luck!

Posted by Anonymous on 20/10/2010 at 11:36

I have mild to severe psoriasis and 3 years ago it started out as dandruff so if you have lumps or clumps on your scalp you need to go to a dermatologist asap. if you dont the psoriasis or seborhic dermatitis could get worse....mine will not go away its really stubborn and soooooo embarassing. especially because im only 14! you might only have dandruff but who knows you might have something worse.......the horrible part about psoriasis is that it will always be there FOREVER!!!

Posted by Alicia K on 12/10/2010 at 09:46

I would like to say I have been off and on with DANDRUFF for about three years. I am currently flake free using head and shoulders shampoo alone twice a week (don't condition your hair afterwards unless using an anti-dandruff conditioner.) I had severe dandruff after being flake free for months while I was pregnant! stick to it, and don't be embarrassed, it is a common body issue. I came to disclaim the idiots stating it is contagious... I have been married for 5 years now with 2 children we all share a brush, and NONE of them have gotten dandruff, EVER. I have shared brushes with friends and other family members and it has NEVER been an issue.

Posted by Optional on 29/09/2010 at 11:31

I have dandruff embarasing. i get very dry face. I also get dry flakes on my eye brows. I cant seem to get rid of it. Can i use these methods.

Posted by GoogleLover on 23/09/2010 at 09:46

Pretty good information...it is very helpful. Thank you. I will try the tips to see if they help my mild condition of dandruff.

Posted by Optional on 14/09/2010 at 10:46

very informative

Posted by Optional on 03/09/2010 at 09:15

This information is very useful for the readers

Posted by Optional on 01/09/2010 at 04:43

Can you loose your hair washing everyday with dandruf shampoo

Posted by Optional on 28/08/2010 at 02:42

Hi I'm starting to get really worried i seem to have really bad eczemia where its all lumpy and clumps, i've been to the doctors but the shampoo he gave isnt working and now i am losing my hair as its getting so itchy, i'm getting married in 6 weeks so would like all my hair ;)

Posted by michele on 28/08/2010 at 02:32

i love this site! i thought i was loosing my hair, as i miss to go to my stylist for treatement twice!!. this site really help me to understand evrything!! it's a spot on !! :)

Posted by Optional on 27/08/2010 at 08:49

hi im 12, i read a comment and it said that you scratch so hard it starts to bleed. same here, but if i leave for a little it getts better but then when i dont wash my hair in a while it gets itchy and i scratch that scab again.im too embarresed to were my hair out and let my girlfriends play with it. its so embaressing and i cry sometimes because it makes me so sad. :'( can anyone give me a tip?

Posted by Anonymous on 20/08/2010 at 09:48

i love this site i have very little dandruff and not realy visalble until very very colose and any a few flakes come out when i rub it i wash twice a day is a way to per cure dandruff

Posted by Haj on 19/08/2010 at 07:48

I'm so glad that I've come across a wonderful website. The info is very well presented and has answered all my questions! :D

Posted by Optional on 06/08/2010 at 10:50

I really appreciate your efforts to tackling most of the challenging problems.thanks a lot and God bless you.but my problem is that,whether i braid my hair or not,i have dandruff.what could the problem be?please i want you to tackle braiding and dandruff. thank you.

Posted by Elsa on 13/07/2010 at 07:45

I am only 11 and whenever I touch my hair its like watching snow flakes coming down its so annoying .. when I sleep it comes all over my pillow. Its so itchy too.

Posted by Ashlee on 30/06/2010 at 08:09

I had terrible dandruff and absolutely nothing was working. I tried washing my hair with nizoral, T-gel, u name it it didnt work. Until I got a prescription called Derma-Smoothe. It's a sweet smelling medicated oil that you base your scalp with. Very easy to use! It's not totally gone but in one use I can already see changes. I would recommend asking your doctor for this!!! The drug is fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%. Hope this helps!!

Posted by aisha yusuf on 28/06/2010 at 11:02

if i got a perm 2 days ago can i use dandruff shampoo or do i have to wait for weeks?

Posted by jenny on 26/06/2010 at 05:54

my hair is so itchy!

Posted by Cat on 24/06/2010 at 12:30

I know im a bit too young to be worrying about dandruff, but mine is quite bad and when I run my hands through my hair, flakes fall out, and are visible in my scalp. I will try not to scratch, and use shampoo with tea tree oil. As I have a wedding in 2 days, I hope it helps. I will get back to you and tell you how it went.

Posted by wajih on 22/06/2010 at 12:33

it was 5years with this problem ,i used a shampoo called nizoral ,the problem disappear within 2 weaks...good luck

Posted by Samuel on 15/06/2010 at 05:45

This information was very helpful,my idiotic friends thinks that dandruff can spread so they avoid being close to me and it's very annoying.Now i can finally prove them 100% wrong. And i can get rid of my dandruff.

Posted by Bethany on 05/06/2010 at 05:50

I have tried buying anti-dandruff shampoo and used it for a while, i started to tell that it didn't work. so i got some dandruff shampoo with tea tree in. it works wonders.

Posted by Optional on 13/05/2010 at 01:09

I can only say that this shampoo helps: Ducray Kelual DS. It really helps! You don't need a prescription, it will leave your hair looking better than any other shampoo I've tried, and it will get rid of the itching and the flaking. It's incredible!

Posted by Et on 04/05/2010 at 02:33

I see a lot of articles saying that Zinc Pyrithione is supposed to inhibit dandruff. Is this true?
Does Zinc Pyrithione contribute to hairloss as some claim?
I notice a lot of anti-dandruff shampoos have it as an ingredient.

Posted by sujatha on 20/04/2010 at 10:34

i am suffering from dandruff and i have consulted one doctor and for your kind information he advised me to avoid pregency. my problem is why he adivised so, what is the conection between dandruff and pregency.

Posted by Optional on 11/04/2010 at 10:52

can you take a shower with hot water??

Posted by Optionial on 03/04/2010 at 05:44

do you take a shower with hot, hot water if you dandruff????.......And, how is dandruff formed and caused????

Posted by Optional on 31/03/2010 at 08:53

thank you

Posted by Optional on 21/03/2010 at 09:27

Can I wash my hair everyday if i have dandruff?

Posted by Optional on 11/03/2010 at 03:33

its a lot better knowing that its so common though.. and that its not caused by bad hygeine

Posted by ravi on 03/03/2010 at 07:18

i am feeling very shy because of dandruff

Posted by Optional on 27/02/2010 at 05:50

I beg to differ with your suggestion that dandruff is not contagious - i got dandruff when some one who had it used my brush. I will never forget that - it took an age to get rid of it.

Posted by Optional on 27/02/2010 at 03:41

So glad women don't have any testosterone; (lol) so what causes our dandruff? Estrogen?
Make a better case.

Posted by Jonathan on 23/02/2010 at 05:09

helpfull but its only noticable when i rub my hair and flakes everywhere, i have resorted to wearing lighter coloured clothes so people dont reconise it or see it HELP!

Posted by Anand Kumar on 17/02/2010 at 08:51

Hi,
You have cleared my doubts about dandruff. Thanks a lot for this well presented information .

Posted by irfan on 07/01/2010 at 12:45

I have lot of dundraff pls help me and my hair falls fast

Posted by vam on 30/11/2009 at 10:16

i have lots of dandrufh... please help me

Posted by rishi on 24/11/2009 at 02:12

my dandruff is so bad when i move my head it like a snow storm

Posted by Anonymous on 17/11/2009 at 10:58

my head is so itchy from it that i bleed my scalp bleeds where i scratch it so much; i also have flakes around my eyebrows.. is that serious?

Posted by Anonymous on 25/09/2009 at 09:28

ewwww when i was in elementary school i had it soo bad and i would like pick it and it would bleed... T_T it was horride

Posted by Daniel N on 18/09/2009 at 11:19

I was quite particular about avoiding sharing my brush with my boys for fear of infection, now i know better even though i still prefer they use theirs.
i feel relieved. information is power
thanks

Posted by thelma on 17/07/2009 at 07:58

This was extremely helpful just when i tot i had a disease,and my family wont share my brush cos my scalp is all flaky... my dandruff worsen after i colored my hair.

Posted by nikhil on 26/06/2009 at 05:18

climbazol containing shampoo is effective for dandruff control?

Posted by wanderingAround on 13/06/2009 at 02:35

hey! can i use ketaconazole with my other anti-dandruff shampoo??? coz' ketoconazole is used twice a week. and i'm thinking using it with my shampooo? i shampoo my head 7x a week. so can i use ketoconazole the same time as my shampoo?
i have a bad grammar...

Posted by Calen on 08/06/2009 at 07:03

I'm also wondering if dandruff increases by the amount of hair i have.
P.S. This site ROCKS
Thank You

Posted by Calen on 08/06/2009 at 06:58

I never new that there were so many reasons to my dandruff.
I'm not sure if i have bad dandruff or not it only seems really bad if i rub my head alot and i mean alot.
Thank You

I like the explanation but I have this little problem
I Use a hairfood oil and it didnot workout. I want to try something new on natural remedy View more options please
Thank You

Posted by headscratcher on 03/04/2009 at 05:06

wow this guide really helped me :D!

Posted by Aaawro on 21/03/2009 at 06:07

Gah i have bad dandruff i used head and shoulders and it went away for a while yet i used the whole damn thing and later it just ended up coming back. I dont know what the hell to do

Posted by Anonymous on 20/03/2009 at 03:57

You cannot catch dandruff from using someone else's brush. You can catch some other things but not dandruff

Posted by kali on 13/03/2009 at 08:05

Hi, I'm 16 years old and Ihave a big dandruff problem. I've always had dandruff and never fully understood what to really use for it. Since I'm mixed with african american and another foreign type of hair like asian, hawaiin, indian type of hair. Usually i use coconut oil hair conditioning grease for my scalp and wash my hair with head n shoulders dandruff shampoo. Am I using the wrong products? How can I get rid of my dandruff? Its really bad. I get clumps of flakes in my scalp and my hair sometimes sheds a lot.

Posted by alyssa on 07/03/2009 at 07:23

help i have dandruff

Posted by SWEETY on 22/02/2009 at 06:45

I HAVE LOTS OF DANDRUFF IN MY HAIR
WHAT I WILL DO TELL

Posted by Anonymous on 27/01/2009 at 10:23

I have tried everything to get rid of the dandruff but no success. Sunset shampoo are no longer available in South Africa. I have never tried Nizoral and would like to know if it is available in South Africa

Posted by Anonymous on 12/01/2009 at 05:00

Try Apple cider Vinegar....and say bye bye to dandruff....

Posted by Smith on 26/12/2008 at 11:11

Very bad dandruff with clump in lumps. Have tried t-tree nothing seems to work